Goal Setting For Efficiency

Top performers protect their time differently. Most of us lose precious hours to chaos and distraction. On the advice of my business coach, I did a time audit. What I learned changed everything. I tracked my hours for a week. Captured everything I spent time on. Now I’m working to eliminate, delegate, or automate everything that doesn’t move the needle. If you struggle to get the important things done, here are 12 productivity tools that actually work: 1. Timeboxing Divide your day into clear blocks. Give each block one purpose. Nothing else happens during that time. It's simple but powerful. 2. Pomodoro Technique 25 minutes of focus. 5-minute break. No compromise, no distractions. I was skeptical at first. Now I can't work without it. 3. Two-Minute Rule If something takes less than two minutes, do it now. Those small tasks pile up and drain your energy when ignored. 4. Kanban Board See your work move from "to-do" to "done." It's surprisingly motivating to watch progress happen visually. 5. 1-3-5 Rule Plan your day around: 1 big task 3 medium tasks 5 small tasks This creates balance and prevents overwhelm. 6. Eat the Frog Do your hardest task first thing. Everything else feels easier after that. 7. Flowtime Technique Work until your focus naturally fades. Take a short break. Learn your rhythm. 8. 80/20 Rule Focus on the vital 20% that creates 80% of your results. Be ruthless about cutting the rest. 9. Getting Things Done (GTD) Capture everything. Organize what matters. Let go of what doesn't. 10. Warren Buffett's 25/5 Rule List 25 goals. Circle your top 5. Ignore everything else. 11. Eisenhower Matrix Organize tasks by urgency and importance. It shows you what really needs your attention. 12. Task Batching Group similar work together. Your brain works better this way. The reality is simple: Time management isn't about squeezing more into your days. It's about making space for what matters most. Choose your minutes wisely. They become your life. ♻️ Find this helpful? Repost for your network. 📌 Follow Amy Gibson for practical leadership tips.

Last week, I posted my most viral post ever on how to set better goals. This weekend, I used the technique myself. Here is what I learned. The method comes from Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani and was recently featured in a Harvard Business School case study by Frances Frei. It looks simple. It also looks beautiful. The four steps are: (1) Define your main goal. (2) Write that goal in the center of a 9×9 grid. (3) Identify eight supporting goals and place them around the center. (4) For each supporting goal, list eight specific behaviors you can practice consistently. On paper, this feels almost too easy. In practice, I don't think it is. When I filled out my grid, the hardest part was not coming up with actions. The hardest part was deciding what I actually want and what I am willing to trade off. --- A few things surprised me. --- First, the “main goal” matters more than I expected. My take is that it should be ambitious but realistic within the next decade. Not too concrete, like “publish paper XYZ.” Not too abstract, like “be a good human being.” The sweet spot is a medium-term direction that can be translated into tangible subgoals. --- Second, the grid forces you to confront overlap and misalignment. Some behaviors supported multiple supporting goals at once. That felt great because it creates leverage. But I also noticed something else: I have goals that matter to me that do not directly serve the main goal. That is also fine. Not everything has to be instrumental. Some things are worth doing because they make life better. --- Third, I realized I am not pursuing just one main goal. I am pursuing several. And sometimes they conflict. That is where the grid becomes less of a productivity tool and more of a self-reflection tool. It can make your competing commitments more visible. --- Fourth, not every supporting goal and not every specific behavior is equally important for the main goal. It feels a bit superfluous to even say this, but of course I can practice as much yoga as I want and it still probably will not matter too much for my academic career. But if I bring several projects to the finish line (100%) rather than just close to it (80%), this will likely have a much stronger impact on my main goal. And still, even the goals that may feel less important at first are still important for achieving the goal. If all I do all day long is "work on one project at a time" and not do anything else, I will soon give up on my main goal altogether and pursue a different career. --- No goal-setting technique is perfect, and my grid is definitely not perfect. Still, I walked away with this feeling: If I make just a little progress on most tiles in this grid over the next few years, I will move meaningfully closer to my main goal of becoming a professor. And that makes the exercise worth it. Have you tried the grid yet? What does yours look like?

𝗗𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗲𝗲𝗹 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗶𝘀 𝘀𝗹𝗶𝗽𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝘄𝗮𝘆, 𝗻𝗼 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘁𝗿𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝘆 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗼𝗽 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀? After years of working alongside top professionals, I’ve learned that time management isn’t just a skill – it’s a mindset. As someone who’s been in the trenches, I’ve witnessed firsthand how great leaders don’t just manage their tasks; they master the art of working smarter, not just harder. Here are 3 time management strategies every executive must master: 𝟭. 𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗕𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 – The secret weapon for the busy professional. Block out chunks of time for specific tasks and stick to them. Avoid multitasking; it’s an energy drain. Focus on one thing at a time for ultimate productivity. 𝟮. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝟴𝟬/𝟮𝟬 𝗥𝘂𝗹𝗲 (𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗲𝘁𝗼 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗹𝗲) – Focus on the 20% of tasks that will generate 80% of your results. Prioritize what truly moves the needle. Delegate or eliminate the rest. 𝟯. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 “𝗧𝘄𝗼-𝗠𝗶𝗻𝘂𝘁𝗲 𝗥𝘂𝗹𝗲” – If something takes less than two minutes, do it now. Don't let small tasks pile up. It’s amazing how quickly you can clear your to-do list by knocking out those quick wins. These strategies don’t just save you time – they give you the mental space to lead effectively, innovate, and focus on what truly matters. If you want to level up your leadership role? Let’s talk. To your success, Coach Vandana Dubey "Elevating Careers, Enriching Souls" Where Professional Growth Meets Personal Fulfilment! #TimeManagement #CareerGrowth #LeadershipDevelopment #ProductivityHacks #leadership #leaders

In the face of an overwhelming volume of to-dos, turning to time management as a solution is a dead end. What do people who are really good at time management get? More work! Time management is important, but it's a productivity tool - not a solution to pressure. Instead, take aim at the three things that create volume pressure in the first place: tasks, decisions, and distractions. When you're faced with what feels like an overwhelming pile, consider the following: 1) What tasks have I taken on that are not linked to my major goals? Can they be deferred or deprioritized? 2) What decisions regularly create cognitive load for me? Are there any that can be replaced with policies or principles so I don't need to carefully weigh them each time? 3) How can I use structure to stop relying on will-power to reduce distractions? This can be as simple as a pomodoro timer, going on airplane mode for 30 mins, or physically isolating yourself in a conference room. If you pair time management with task, decision and distraction management you'll have a more sustainable approach over the long haul.

Yesterday I took the entire revenue team (sales, cs, marketing) off the floor for out for a very specific training. Goal Setting. Yep. The entire org for over 60 min together learning how to set and achieve goals. I do this 2x a year with my teams. Why? Because most people never accomplish their goals because they never actually set them and never actually create a plan to achieve them. I've gotten pretty dang good at setting goals. I've gotten pretty dang good at achieving goals. It makes life so much more fun. So here are the key concepts I teach in goal settting. 1. Set a goal in each of the 5 buckets. Self. Health. Wealth. Proffessional. Experience. 2. Identify the Keystone Goal - Which goal if achieved will have the biggest impact on all the rest. 3. Who do you need to BE in order to achieve this goal - How would this person act, work, communicate, behave, etc 4. What do you need to BELIEVE to achieve this goal - this combined with number 3 is where we create our affirmations. 5. Why do you want this goal - aka what will change in your world when you achieve it - If nothing changes... nothing changes. 6. What are you done dealing with now/whats the negative of NOT achieving your goal - Having a negative is important when things get hard. 7. Why you Why Now - Why are you capable of achieving this goal, what traits, resources, etc do you have that allow you to believe you can do this. 8. What are your 3x3s - 3 things daily, weekly, and monthly that if done will give you your best shot at achieving - Example - Put workout clothes out the night before with the alarm across the room - that would be a good daily for health 9. Make it visual - Vision boards (we will be doing this in a couple weeks as a team) - but also visualize it each morning, each evening, not just the accomplishing of the goal, but the process to achieve it. 10. Accountability - Share it with people that not only want to see you win, but also with people that won't allow you to lose/will hold you to the fire. --- All written out by each individual and then my challenge to them is to read it every morning and every night for 60 days. Watch what happens when you do. A team that sets goals together, wins together. I can't wait to see so many of theirs goals, so many of their affirmations, and so many of their achievements. This is going to be good ya'll. Just wait and see. PS - this is one of the most popular modules in the Sales Leadership Accelerator in fact it's unlocked right out the gate for all members. PPS - I'll be doing this workshop at Pavilion GTM in a few weeks as well here in Austin. Lets set and smash some goals ya'll!

Setting effective goals is challenging, especially at the scale of a company like Meta. In a recent blog post, Meta’s analytics team shares their approach to goal setting through a tool called the Goal Map: a conceptual framework that connects team-level metrics to company-wide outcomes, helping teams prioritize the right work and measure impact more effectively. Here’s how it works: teams align their goals with broader objectives, use a tiering system to prioritize what matters most, set targets that balance ambition and achievability, and track progress through experiments, milestones, and long-term trends. Everything ties back to the Goal Map—ensuring that all efforts remain connected to meaningful outcomes. The result is greater focus, stronger coordination, and more informed decision-making across teams. It’s a valuable framework for any data-driven organization looking to scale without losing sight of its strategic goals: a recommended reading. #DataScience #Analytics #BusinessMetrics #GoalSetting #ProductAnalytics #SnacksWeeklyonDataScience – – –  Check out the "Snacks Weekly on Data Science" podcast and subscribe, where I explain in more detail the concepts discussed in this and future posts:    -- Spotify: https://lnkd.in/gKgaMvbh   -- Apple Podcast: https://lnkd.in/gj6aPBBY    -- Youtube: https://lnkd.in/gcwPeBmR https://lnkd.in/gHFkBEPY

The goal-setting method used by the best baseball player in the world: If you don't know who Shohei Ohtani is, he's basically the Michael Jordan of baseball. The single most dominant two-way player the sport has seen in a century. When he was a high school freshman in Japan, he created this detailed 64-cell roadmap with one central goal: to be the number 1 draft pick for 8 NPB (Nippon Professional Baseball) teams. And it worked. If you're wondering, this is called the Harada Method. Here's a quick breakdown: 1. Choose one clear, meaningful long-term goal and a deadline. 2. Break that main goal into 8 subgoals that cover different areas needed to achieve it. 3. Break each subgoal into 8 specific actions, skills, or habits (filling the 8×8 grid). 4. Turn the most important actions into a small set of daily routines and track them. 5. Review your progress regularly, adjusting subgoals and actions based on what you learn. This is a pretty intense exercise, which I definitely don't think is for everyone. But I do think it's an amazing way to break down a big goal into something actually actionable. I’ve linked a template in the comments if you want to try it.

Bad goal setting can cripple your business (I know from firsthand experience). Here's how to set goals that propel your business forward. Step 1: Analyze last year’s performance. You can’t set the right goals without the correct information. So, take some time to gather data from the previous year to find areas of strength and weakness. Look at your: Revenue streams — what are your most profitable areas? Your biggest cost centers? Sales & marketing — can you spot trends in customer acquisition or marketing ROI? Operations — where is your business bottlenecked? Where might you be overstaffed? Employee performance — look at productivity and churn. Which direction are things going? — Step 2: Brainstorm areas for improvement. Write down all the possible things you could work on. This is a great group activity for your leadership team or even the whole company (depending on your size). The data you’ve collected in step 1 should give you some idea of opportunity areas. One tip: don’t discount an idea just because it’s hard. Often the biggest impact things are hard to do. But you should be realistic about the effort required to get something done, and its chances of success. — Step 3: Set SMART goals Specific: Define clear and precise goals. Instead of saying "increase sales," say "increase sales by 12% in the next 6 months." Measurable: Ensure each goal has quantifiable metrics. E.g. "Reduce customer acquisition costs by 15% by the end of the year." Achievable: Set realistic goals based on your resources, budget and other constraints. E.g. if you have limited cash, avoid goals that would severely impact your monthly cash flow. Relevant: Align goals with your overall business objectives. Ensure they address the key areas for improvement identified earlier. Time-bound: Set deadlines for each goal. E.g. "launch a new service by Q3." — Step 4: Develop an Action Plan For each goal, create an action plan that outlines: Steps and Milestones: Break down each goal into smaller, manageable tasks. Set milestones to track progress. Resources: Identify the resources needed (time, money, personnel) and ensure they are available. Responsibilities: Assign tasks to specific employees. Ensure everyone understands their role and what is expected of them. Timeline: Establish a timeline with deadlines for each task and milestone. Doubling down on one point there: always assign tasks to a single person. They can still bring in other people to contribute, but it’s one person’s responsibility to get it across the finish line. — Step 5: Monitor and Adjust Goals are not static. Regularly check your progress, and adjust based on new insights or changing circumstances. Schedule monthly and/or quarterly reviews to keep everything on track. Having a simple KPI tracker is a good way to keep tabs on things. Make sure you’re regularly checking in, and ask people to flag any roadblocks or necessary adjustments as soon as they identify them.

MEP Progress Monitoring Template — Complete Control Across Every System & Floor In complex building projects, MEP works define the real readiness of a facility. Electrical, ELV, ACMV, BMS, Fire Protection, Plumbing, Sanitary — if these systems are not tracked with precision, delays, rework, and cost overruns become inevitable. To eliminate this risk, we use a MEP Progress Monitoring Template (as shown) that provides storey-wise and system-wise visibility across the entire project. 📊 What This Template Covers Each floor is monitored with clear % progress tracking for: ⚡ Electrical System 1st fix, 2nd fix, 3rd fix & overall completion 🎛 ELV Systems CCTV, Access Control, Data & Communication ❄ ACMV (HVAC) Ducting, piping, insulation & equipment installation 🧠 BMS Panels, wiring, testing & system integration 🔥 Fire Protection Pumps, sprinklers, alarms & extinguishers 🔊 PA System Speakers, panels & backbone cabling 🚰 Plumbing & Sanitary 1st fix, 2nd fix, testing & commissioning 🛠 Lift, Gas & ESC Systems Specialized services fully monitored 🏭 Plant Rooms & Technical Areas (Detailed) • Electrical HT / LT Rooms • Fire Pump Room • Gas Cylinder Room • Chiller & Generator Rooms • IT Room / MDF Room • Cooling Tower Room • All technical spaces with % completion status 💡 Why This Template Is Essential ✔ Complete visibility across all MEP systems ✔ No guesswork — measurable progress at every level ✔ Early delay identification & corrective action ✔ Accurate weekly reporting for PMs & Clients ✔ Strong support for commissioning readiness ✔ Better coordination between all MEP disciplines ✔ Standardized progress measurement (industry best practice) ✔ Seamless progress updates for Primavera P6 This approach transforms MEP execution from reactive to controlled, predictable, and trackable. 📥 Want the Template? Comment “MEP TEMPLATE” + your email and I’ll share the complete soft copy of the MEP Progress Monitoring File. Ideal for: ✔ Building Projects ✔ Hospitals ✔ Hotels ✔ Commercial Towers ✔ MEP Contractors ✔ Planning & Project Control Engineers

Here’s the truth:   A dream without a plan is just a wish.  Big achievements don’t happen by accident—they happen because you set the right goals, and you commit to them.  But not all goals are created equal.   Without clarity, purpose, and a plan, goals can feel overwhelming.  That’s where the right frameworks can transform your process.  --- Here are 6 frameworks to help you achieve any goal you set:  1️⃣ S.M.A.R.T. Goals   Make your goals:   - Specific   - Measurable   - Achievable   - Relevant   - Time-Bound  ➡ Example: “I want to increase sales by 20% in Q1 through better lead conversion strategies.”   Why it works: You know exactly what success looks like and when to celebrate it.  --- 2️⃣ The Golden Circle (Start With Why)   Simon Sinek’s framework is simple but profound:   - Why: What’s the deeper purpose behind your goal?   - How: What steps will make it happen?   - What: What action will you take today?  ➡ Example: “Why do you want to grow your team? To create opportunities for others to lead.”  --- 3️⃣ The Goals Pyramid   Break down goals into manageable levels:   - Ultimate Goal (The big picture)   - Strategy (How you’ll get there)   - Execution (Daily and weekly tasks)   - Resources (Tools and support)  ➡ Example: “Goal: Launch a new product. Strategy: Build a 3-month timeline. Execution: Weekly milestones. Resources: Team and tools.”  --- 4️⃣ BHAG (Big, Hairy, Audacious Goals)   These goals push you to dream bigger than ever:   - Competitive BHAGs: Outperform your rivals.   - Transformative BHAGs: Inspire significant change.   - Internal BHAGs: Challenge your team to grow together.  ➡ Example: “Double our market share in 3 years by becoming the industry’s sustainability leader.”  --- 5️⃣ H.A.R.D. Goals   Set goals that are:   - Heartfelt: What inspires you?   - Animated: Visualize success clearly.   - Required: Make them non-negotiable.   - Difficult: Stretch your limits.  ➡ Example: “Launch a program that impacts 10,000 lives this year.”  --- 6️⃣ W.O.O.P. (Wish, Outcome, Obstacle, Plan)   - Wish: Define a meaningful goal.   - Outcome: Visualize the best result.   - Obstacle: Identify the barriers in your way.   - Plan: Map out your next steps.  ➡ Example: “Wish: Start a new career. Obstacle: Balancing work and learning. Plan: Dedicate evenings to online courses.”  --- 💡 What I’ve Learned:   Goals are your compass. They give you direction, focus, and the power to measure progress.  But frameworks like these are the bridge between setting goals and actually achieving them.  --- The Takeaway:   Dream big—but plan smarter.   Your goals don’t have to feel overwhelming when you break them down into clear, achievable steps.  💬 Which framework resonates with you most?   Let’s share ideas in the comments! 👇  ♻️ Found this helpful? Share it with someone who’s working on their next big goal.   ➡️ Follow for more strategies on leadership, growth, and goal-setting.